Weekly News Digest

The members of the Michigan Library Consortium (MLC) and INCOLSA, Inc. approved the merger of the two organizations. Effective Feb. 15, 2010, Randy Dykhuis, MLC executive director, will become the executive director of the new organization, Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS).

"As we move forward as a combined organization, I look forward to continuing the good work that both organizations have done and expanding services in both states," Dykhuis said. "With our combined membership we expect to deliver enhanced savings on services such as group licenses and to expand resource sharing options for residents of both states."

Marnie Maxwell, INCOLSA interim director, said, "We are gratified by the overwhelmingly positive vote from Indiana libraries. MCLS will be a dynamic partnership that will ensure Indiana and Michigan libraries continue to move forward, serving the most people with the best possible library services."

MCLS will have a combined membership of more than 1,300 institutions of all types and sizes. MCLS will be governed by an interim board made up of eight Indiana librarians and eight Michigan librarians until the governing board is elected in fall 2010. The nonprofit membership organization will provide Michigan and Indiana libraries with a convenient, single point of contact for training, group purchasing, and technical support for electronic resources. More information is available at www.mlcnet.org.

Source: MLC and INCOLSA